Traffic-signal



C. O. ANDERSON AND S. NELSEN. TRAFFIC SIGNAL. APPLICATION FILED MAY 17. I920;

Patented Mar. 1, 1921,.

INVENTOR- dari 0 .find'erasara d'orem' hifirez ATTORNEY marten CARL 0. ANDERSON AND sonnet ansen; or sroxaivn, WASHINGTON,

T AFFIC-SIGNAL.

T all whom it may concern.

Be it known that we, CARL O. ANDERSON and SonEN NnLsnN, citizens of the United States residing at Spokane, in the county of Spokane and State of Washington, have invented new and useful Improvements in TratHc-Signals,of whichthe fol lowing is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in traffic signals and has to do more particularly with a signal of this character for 1 use on an auto.

One of the features of this invention 18 to provide asignal in which thesemaphore may be swung from a vertically concealed" position laterally in either of two directions 'into horizontal signaling positions or into a vertical uppermost signaling position, the semaphore being capable of movement throughout a complete circle of three hundred and sixty degrees.

In order to provide for this character of complete circular movement, of the semaphore, thereis-included in the lnvention a novel form of easing of such structure that functions not only tomove the semaphore v into fourdistinct positions but also to hold the semaphore in such positions, there being 7 no dead center irrespective of the directions in which the semaphore is moved.

Other features and objects of the invention will be more fully described in connection with the accompanying drawing and will be more particularly pointed out in and by the appended claims.

In the drawings:

Figure 1, is a view in rear elevation of the improved signal with parts broken away and showing the signal mounted upon the left hand post of an auto wind-shield.

Fig. 2,,.is a rear view of the semaphore casing withthe cover omitted. Fig. 3, is an edge elevation looking from the left of Fig. 2 with the cover in place.

Specification of Letters Patent.

the invention in Fig. 4:, a vertical sectional view on line 4:4ofF1g.2;

T rms;

Patented'Mar. 1, 1921. -.App1ication filed May 17, 1920.- Serial no; 381,929.

F 1g. 5, ls'a vertical sectional view on line 5-5 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 1s a plan View of the adjusting drum casing looking inthe direction of- I e n i i I i F V R F 1g. 7 1s a diagrammatic view of the dethe'arrow of Fig. 1.

vice showingthe different positions to which the semaphore may be adjusted. v

L ke characters of reference designate slmllar parts throughout the different ures of the drawing. 1 i l As illustrated, 1 designates the'left hand post of a wind-shield. In the form of the the post 1. The outer end of said hollow arm 2 is provided with flanges 4 and 5 to vertical position an elongated semaphore casing comprising a back wall 6 and surrounding edge walls 7. An opening8v in theedge wall 7'registering with the hollow arm- 2 provides for passage of operating "invention shown which is adapted for attachment to a windshield, 2 designatesa hollow supporting'arm having any suitable: means,- as; indicated at 3, for attachment to.

means which will be later described. The i form of the casing, as regards the shape of the lateral or edge walls is clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 2,'the lower enlar ement providing for a direction mirror which will be later descrlbed. I

As a part of I a semaphore operating means, a drum 9 is disposed in the upper portion of the semaphore casing, thelatter having a sleeve 10 forming means on which the drum 9 is rotatively journaled, The length of the drum is such that its outer or exposed end projects slightly laterally of the edges of the. wall 7, for a purpose which will later appear. A bolt 11 extends through the sleeve 10 and forms a means for sustaining the upperportion of a cover which will be presently described. A semaphore 12 has its upper end secured to the drum 9, as

indicated at 13so that the drum 9 not only functions as a support-for the semaphore but also as van operating member therefor. The semaphore 12 hangs pendently from thedrum 9 and is provided with an opening through which the bolt 11 extends. .Now

it will be clear from Figs. 3 and 4 that the semaphore 12 is in clearance relation to the edges of the wall 7 due to the height or length of the drum 9 andit will also be seen that the semaphore is in clearance relation with respect to the arm 2.

Reference will next be made to the improved form of cover and to the manner in which the same is mounted on the semaphore casing to give the semaphore freedom of movement throughout a complete circle of three hundred and sixty degrees.

The cover is indicated at 14 and the same is proportioned similarly to the sema-, phore casing. The lower end or the cover is secured at 15 to a. solid part of the casing radially beyond the sweep of the semaphore 12, the extreme end of thelatter being indicated at 16. The upper end of the cover 14 has an opening through which the bolt 11 passes, the head 17 resting against the cover. A washer 18 may be interposed between the cover 14v and the semaphore 12 to space the cover in tree working clearance from the semaphore. Thus it will be seen that notwithstanding the tact that the semaphore casing is pendently hung from its upper end, the'cover may be secured thereto in such a manner as not only to effectively support the cover but also to provide an open space through whlch the semaphore may be swung .throughout a complete circle. The iower portion of the cover 14 is provided with a direction mirror 19 which functions in the usual manner. The semaphore 12 is provided with an opening 20 which registers with similar openings 21, in the cover 14, and a like opening in the back wall 6 shown at 22. These openings 21 and 22 may be provided with red glass so that when an electric lamp, as indicated in dotted lines at 23, is interposed between the back wall 6 and the seimaphore 12, it will glow through the red g ass. erative in the absence of such means.

Reference will next be made to the manner in which the semaphore is operated.

The arm 2 has an adjusting drum casing 24 in accessible-relation to the driver. and

.to the arm 2. Interiorly of said casing 24 is disposed a drum 25. Drum 25 is provided with a relatively restricted bore 26 having an'enlargement 27. An adjusting lever 28 is rigidly secured to said drum and operates abreast oi" notches 29, in the wall of the easing 24. A bolt 30 extends through the casing and said drum and has a nut 31 engaging the back of said casing. A washer 32lis interposed between the head 33 of said bolt and the lever 28, which latter is secured to the drum 25. The lever 28 is provided with an opening whereby a spring 33, interposed between shoulder 34 and washer 32 will normally act to force the drum 25 to the left of 5. This causes the lever 28 to seek where the driver is However, my invention is clearly opthe more recessed portions 35 of the notches 29 so as to hold the semaphore in the various positions to which it may be adjusted.

tened to drum 25 and drum 9 and may be provided .with' a tensioning device such as a turn buckle 37. A similar cable or wire 88 is trained about and fastened to the drums in an opposite direction to that oft wire 36 and may be provided with a tensioning device 39. The hollow arm 2 is provided with an opening 40 to render the tensioning devices accessible.

Next referring to the diagrammatic view shown in Fig. 7, a designates the position oi the semaphore 12 and the lever 28 in a nonsignaling position. The. letter 7) designates the semaphore and lever in the position eating that be LU ing to the left. relative positions when the driver is signaling that he is turning to the right. The letter 0 designates the signaling position to stop. Now one of the important features is i that the semaphore may not only be shifted to either the right or left signalingposition, from position a but it 1112135 9180 be shifted from eith r of the horizontal positions directly to the stop position or it may be shitted to the stop position directly from the nonsignaling position.

It is believed that the invention will be fully understood from the foregoing deis turn he letter (Z indicates the scription and while we have herein shown and described one specific form of our invention, we do not wish to be limited thereto except for such limitations as the claims may import. WVe claim: L A traffic signal comprising a casing having an open side, a semaphore, means rotatively mounting said semaphore on said abreast of said casing in either of two directions and throughout a complete circle, and a cover for said casing secured to the ter beyond the radial sweep of said semaphore and aiso attached to said means, said cover'being in spaced relation to said casing from beyond the point of attachment thereto throughout the length of said semaphore to permit said semaphore to swing in either of two directions into and out of a concealed position with respect to and from between said casing and cover.

2. A traiiic signal comprising an elongated casing normally vertically disposed, a semaphore, means rotatively mounting said semaphore near the upper end of said casing to permit the semaphore to swing. laterally abreast of said casing in either of two directions and throughout a complete circle, and a cover for said casing secured toithe lower end thereof beyond the radial sweep otsaid semaphore and also swiveled at its casing to permit thesemaphore to swing upper end to said means to hold the cover in place, said cover being in spaced relation to said casing from above the point of its attachment thereto throughout the length of said cover to permit the semaphore to swing from between the cover and the casing in either of two directions.

3. A trafiic signal comprising a casing having an open side, a semaphore drum rotatively mounted on said casing and having means whereby said drum may be rotated, a semaphore arm attached to said drum and hanging pendently therefrom and said drum being proportioned to dispose said semaphore arm in such lateral or parallel relation with the casing as to permit said drum to be swung in its own plane laterally in either of two directions, and a cover for inclosing said semaphore on one side thereof, said cover being supportingly secured to said casing beyond the radial sweep of said semaphore at one end of said cover, the other end of said cover being secured to said drum stem.

4. A traffic signal comprising an open sided casing, a semaphore operating drum,

a sleeve journaling said drum in said cas ing, means for rotating said drum to difierent positions, a semaphore having one end secured to said drum and adapted to be swung by said drum into a position abreast of said casing or in either of two directions position between said cover and casing ineither of two directions. I

5. A traffic signal comprising an arm having means for attachment to the wind-shield of an auto, a semaphore casing mounted on the outer end of said arm, a'sernaphore in said casing, and cable means for operating said semaphore extending through said arm, the inner end of said arm having a drum casing, an adjusting drum in said casing having a shouldered bore, a bolt eX- tending through said bore and journaling said drum, an operating lever mounted on said drum, a spring interposed between the shoulder of said bore and said bolt head to hold said drum in position, said casing having notches for engagement by said lever to hold said drum in adjusted positions.

In testimony, that we claim the foregoing as our own, we hereby aflix our signatures.

CARL O'ANDERSON. SOREN NELSEN. 

